The Best Time of Life

There is an amusing slide show on MSN titled “24 Reasons We’re
Totally Jealous of Old People”. The photos are funny and irreverent, but
viewing them brought to mind some serious reasons why I enjoy being over fifty.
I’m not sure I could come up with 24 reasons, but these ten were pretty easy:

I’m wiser
than I was in my youth. Of course that wisdom came at a price: mistakes. I’ve
made a LOT of mistakes. But the lessons learned have served me well.

I am not
afraid to make mistakes. I don’t like to do it, but the fear of failure no
longer prevents me from trying things. I’m braver now that my ego isn’t
involved in every decision. That being said, the aforementioned wisdom also
tells me when I should NOT try something. Lol Skydiving is definitely not on my bucket list-
I certainly COULD do it, I just know I would NOT like it.

I don’t
obsess about how I look. Oh, the hours and hours of youth I wasted on
controlling this hair and putting on a false face of makeup. Now I’m just thankful I still have hair and I
can SEE my face.

I know
more people and I like them more. In my youth I was always so worried about
whether or not other people liked me
that I didn’t make a lot of friends. Now I enjoy getting to know new people,
and treasure the ones that I’ve known for decades.

I can
speak my mind. I don’t always have to agree with other people and I don’t
expect them to agree with me. I understand that differences of opinion are often
simply that; they don’t have to be judgments of good or bad, right or wrong.

I know
what I like. I don’t waste time trying lots
of new foods or activities or clothing styles or entertainment. I know myself
well enough to select new things based on a lifetime of other choices.

I can see
and enjoy the fruits of my labors: my children and grandchildren. I always
wondered how my children would “turn out” and now I know. I’m proud of them and
love hearing about their experiences as adults, and as parents.

I’m
working at a job I love. I spent some miserable years doing work that
simply helped pay the rent. I didn’t enjoy it and it wasn’t good for my mental
or physical health.

My faith
in God is stronger. I have fewer doubts about my purpose in life and I feel
more joyous and optimistic about life in general.

Comments

OK so I'm not 50 yet, but I totally agree with just about everything you have on here! The exception being that I don't have grandkids YET! lol I am so thankful that I have made it to all of these things and really enjoy life much more fully than I did when I was younger. Very well written, as always. :)